As our hair reaches new lengths, it begins to take on a shape of its own. Finding the shape that best fits you and really showcases your gorgeous mane can be fun and exciting. Choosing the right shape depends on a myriad of factors, such as the length of your hair, the texture and thickness of your hair, and the shape of your head and face. We will look at the most popular shapes.

Blunt- is when the hair is cut evenly across on all sides. Many women enjoy the thickness that is gained by removing layers from their hair. A blunt cut gives a uniform appeal to hair and tends to make it look longer. Many also believe that it lessens the frequency of split ends and makes hair stronger and more resilient because all the hairs are aligned.

V-shaped hair tends to be shorter on the sides and longer in the middle, with the longest portion of hair growing down the middle of the back. The V-shape is considered sexy, and more mature for long-haired women. It allows for extra length, while keeping you from looking like you’re in high school.

U-shaped simply “rounds out” the back of the hair. This shape tends to be a little softer than the v-shape. It seems to be a nice mid-point between blunt and v-shape. It allows you to keep a good deal of length, but keeps ends more uniform than the v-shape.

If you’re feeling adventurous and know how to cut your own hair, Feye’s hair trimming instructions give in-depth steps to each of these three shapes; check her out at http://community.livejournal.com/feyeselftrim.

Layered implies having the hair cut into a number of layers, the shortest being the uppermost, with length increasing at the ends. This cut is probably the most versatile and basic haircut. Both long and short hair can look beautiful with layers. Many stylists believe that layers offer plenty of movement and body. Most, however, love it for its easy upkeep and versatility on any length.

Coarse hair can be tricky to manage and different shampoos and conditioners produce different results. Sometimes we can’t always afford those salon quality products, but we don’t want our hair to suffer. Several tips and tricks will make shopping easier. Experiment! Your hair may become accustomed to certain products as they are used over a long period of time. Additionally, new products are constantly being developed and re-formulated so you could be missing out on the best product for your hair simply by not trying new things!

Some drugstore brand conditioners that have produced excellent results on coarse hair include: Tresemme  Pro-Vitamin B5 & Aloe protects hair from breakage and heat styling, Infusium Moistureologie hydrates & replenishes moisture to dry, parched hair, Freeman Papaya & Mango Massive Moisture repairs breakage and split ends, Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner contains olive, meadowfoam, and sweet almond oils to penetrate and moisturize each layer of the hair strand , Garnier Fructis Fortifying Conditioner contains active fruit concentrate to give strength and shine hair, Aussie Moist & Aussie 3-Minute Miracle, Loreal Vive Pro Nutrigloss Conditioners contain pearl protein, defines curls, and gives mirror shine, and Herbal Essences Hydralicious Conditoner smoothes frizzy hair with extracts of shea, and Hawaiian sea silk.

Finding a good drug-store brand conditioner can keep both your hair and your wallet in good shape! You can find these great conditioners at local supermarkets, retail, and discount stores. So don’t rob your hair of these inexpensive treasures, find your favorite drug-store treasure and keep some money in your pocket!

Exercise is important to good health and longevity. But for African-American women it inevitably means having a “bad” hair day!  If you are doing a lot of cardio you may have noticed that your hair feels a little drier than usual. Remember that the scalp is skin, and just like the skin on your face you must clean it on a regular basis, or you will develop a build-up in the pores. Well, your scalp has pores and follicles that must stay clear and clean in order to keep a healthy environment for healthy hair growth and to inhibit an itchy scalp, or scalp disorders. When you sweat, your hair becomes dehydrated and brittle causing aging damage, which can shorten the life of your strands.Quick-Fix: The Five-Minute Hairstyle

Styling the hair after a hard work out can be a real challenge for some. When starting a workout program, some women may cut their hair short, or weave or braid their hair with extensions. Those are options that you can choose, but don’t ever feel forced. There are ways to keep your hair looking fresh and chic, while preserving your sexy. This simple style will have you feeling good AND looking good in just minutes!
After your quick-fix shampoo and condition, you are ready for the next part.

Step 1. Wrap your head with a towel while you dry off.

Step 2. Remove the towel and lightly apply a leave-in conditioner.

Step 3. Apply a non-alcoholic, styling glaze to your hairline. If your hair is curly, apply a moisturizer before the glaze, then smooth your hair back flat if it’s short, or use a “scrunchie” to gather it into a ponytail for longer hair. Not too tight though!

Step 4. Lightly spray your hair and hairline with a moisturizer, and then tie a satin scarf around the hairline securely.

Step 5. Apply your favorite hair attachment (e.g., bun or drawstring ponytail).

Step 6. Secure the attachment with bobby pins, and then remove the scarf.

Voila! Beauty & Body! You don’t have to sacrifice a healthy body for a hairstyle! Be fit, Be fly!

Taking the steps to maintain proper moisture and protein balances within the hair shaft is important, particularly if you’ve color-treated your hair with anything other than a rinse. Color treated hair is often times more porous and dryer than untreated hair. Choose quality, moisturizing shampoos and conditioners, specifically for color-treated hair, to help prolong the vibrancy of your color. Harsh shampoos can cause abrasions along the cuticle which in addition to making your color appear dull, also cause breakage in the long run. Shampoo your hair less often to prevent premature fading of your color. Keep your water in the warm to cool range to avoid stripping your hair. Additionally, remember to protect your hair while swimming in chlorinated pools.

Color treated hair needs more moisture and upkeep than untreated hair. Follow each wash with a moisturizing conditioner for at least 20-30 minutes. Although, heat offers maximum penetration, forgo any heat styling for at least the first 2 weeks following a color process. Hot oil treatments or apple cider vinegar rinses are also options. They do well in keeping the cuticle smooth and soft. When using permanent or semi-permanent color, consider using a color rinse in between salon visits to keep hair fresh and vibrant looking. Color rinses help maintain the correct tone of color and help lessen the chemical damage to the hair shaft.

Here are a few simple items you’ll need to ensure you have the healthiest, color-treated hair:

1- Moisturizing Shampoo (preferably for color-treated hair)

1- Moisturizing Deep Conditioner

1- Protein/ Reconstructor Conditioner

1- Water-based protein moisturizer

1- Water-based moisture ONLY moisturizer

1- Oil

Keeping your color-treated hair in optimal condition may take a little more time and attention. But as long as you are giving your hair both the needed protein and moisturizing components it needs, your color treated hair will thrive!

Most of us visit a stylist weekly or monthly. Perhaps you’ve been plagued with the “unintentional” hair cut, wrong color job, or 2 hour wait. With all the time and money we invest in our hair, we certainly want to know if we’re getting our monies worth! Whether choosing a new stylist or deciding to leave an old one, be willing to honestly evaluate your stylist. More is involved than just liking the person.When visiting the shop, look at set-up and cleanliness of the area. Is it made comfortable for customers? Are you greeted when you enter? Do you feel comfortable and stress free? Does your stylist interact well with co-workers? Pay attention to your wait time too!  If you have an appointment, your wait time should be no more than 15 minutes. No one wants to spend all day in the salon! You might observe these things on arrival or make a checklist prior to your visit.Before your stylist begins to work, they should ask what you would like to have done. Also listen for questions regarding your daily hair maintenance regimen, products and techniques used. Don’t be afraid to tell your stylist what you do and do not like to have done to your hair e.g. scratching the scalp, rough washing, and small teeth combs. Is your stylist concerned about the health AND style of your hair. Don’t get caught in the whirlwind of mindless, trendy styles that may damage your precious strands. Opt for a stylist that knows the importance of healthy hair and scalp! Be aware of any services being done that you did not request. Talk to your stylist frequently to get feedback about what is being done and what you expect. After all, our hair is our crowning glory! With just a few unfortunate snips, or a too hot iron, it can be lying on the floor!Another way to evaluate your stylist is to look at the results and progress of other customers. Is the stylist attentive to other customers? How is their level of interaction? Usually, a stylist can be measured by the work they produce! So what’s your stylist showing you?

One of the most important things to remember about scalp care is that the scalp is skin, just like the skin on your face and must be taken care of and cleaned properly if you expect to maintain gorgeous tresses.  Healthy scalps are those where the skin is toned, pliable, and stimulated.

Remember these tips to help maintain a healthy scalp!

Keep it Clean! -Just as pores can become clogged on the face, the follicles of the hair can experience the same type of obstruction if products are placed directly on it. The scalp produces its own oil, called sebum. When products are frequently applied to the scalp, the scalp will produces less sebum to compensate. This action produces dryness and dandruff. The proper way to hydrate the scalp and shun dryness is through frequent washing and conditioning. For moisturizing and styling, apply your products from the new growth all the way to the ends. Avoid actively going through and coating the scalp with heavy oils.

Stay Gentle! - Avoid stripping shampoos with harsh detergents. Use clarifying shampoos sparingly only once or twice per month, and moisturizing shampoos for weekly. If you workout frequently and sweat heavily, always rinse the scalp with tepid water to remove salts, which can dry out the hair.

Say NO to Extreme Heat! – Blow dryers and hooded dryers contribute greatly to moisture depletion of the scalp. Try to direct blow-dryer heat down the hair shaft and not directly toward the scalp.

Eat Healthy! – A healthy diet is essential to a healthy scalp and nourishment of new hair growth. Nutritional imbalances may result in inadequate nourishment to our scalps which may hinder hair growth and scalp health. Vitamin and mineral deficits have a strong impact on the overall strength and integrity of the hair.

Keeping your scalp free of debris, keeping your products gentle, avoiding extreme heat, and balancing your diet will all help ensure that your scalp remains a healthy environment for your hair!

Herbal Tea Rinses have been used for centuries in many cultures; as treatment and prophylactics for a myriad of health and hair ailments. Herbal Hair Teas are great for relieving scalp itching, flaking and dandruff, restore shine, increase growth, and reduce hair loss. Natural hair rinses also repair damaged hair by strengthening it and giving it a more fresh appearance. They nourish the hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth. Although there are many hair-friendly herbs; we will look at the most common ones and how they can be used to enhance and beautify your hair.

• Chamomile: A natural hair conditioner, traditionally used for lighter color hair.
• Horsetail: Due to its high silica content, it helps brittle hair
• Mint: Stimulates the scalp
• Nettle: Treats dandruff and stimulates hair growth
• Rosemary: Excellent for all hair types and problems, especially hair growth.
• Sage: Traditionally used to restore color to graying hair. As a hair rinse, it removes dandruff and darkens hair.
• Thyme: Good for oily hair and dandruff.
• Cinnamon: Good for Alopecia and scalp stimulation.
• Brahmi: Ayurvedic herb makes hair dark, thick, and shiny. Also strengthens hair roots and promotes hair growth.

Use this easy, all-purpose recipe to make your next hair tea!

All-Purpose Hair Tea

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup dried herbs
4 cups distilled water

DIRECTIONS:
Boil the two ingredients for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the tea brew three to five minutes, or longer for stronger tea. Strain using a cheese cloth or knee-high pantyhose and let cool. Apply the solution to freshly washed hair. Rinse with cool or tepid water to help seal the hair cuticle.

Remember! Herbal rinses are not quick fixes. Their effectiveness is cumulative and should be done consistently for at least 2 months to see good results.

Happy New Year from your friends at Hairfinity! Each New Year is always packed with well intended resolutions- lose weight, get more organized, save money, go back to school, the list is endless. But what about hair care? The start of a new year is a great way to see the transformation of your hair. Healthy hair grows an average of 6 inches per year or ½ inch per month. By implementing a healthy hair care regimen at the beginning of the year, you can easily measure changes in growth and condition.The New Year is also when some choose to begin the journey from relaxed to natural hair (transitioning). Natural hair is considered to be stronger and more resilient than relaxed hair; because it has not been weakened or altered by chemicals. Although, there are many women with healthy, long, relaxed hair, many still opt to enjoy the versatility of their natural hair. Going from relaxed hair to natural hair is a process that involves patience, love and dedication. As your natural hair grows, it may be frustrating dealing with the two textures – that’s why some opt for “the big chop”. This is the point where the relaxed hair is completely removed. If this is a little to extreme for you, many other styles can be used to help ease the frustration of dealing with two textures. Styles like cornrows, braids, extensions, straw-sets or twist-outs, lessen the need for daily styling and help to hide/ blend the different textures in your hair. This stage may be quite stressful, as the cute, little ringlets you envision have not yet appeared. You must remember to EMBRACE and LOVE your hair during this time! Hair care during this time is quite simple -condition, condition, condition! This, along with regular hot oil treatments, and using a wide tooth comb help avoid hair breakage and restore the moisture balance of your hair. Using a leave-in conditioner, such as Infusium, after every wash will help to eliminate tangles and keep hair protected against harsh environmental elements. So if your one of those women who is ready to take the journey back to natural, CONGRATULATIONS on your decision! May your hair be healthy & flowing, no matter the texture!

Wanted to share this awesome info. with ya!

How-to Roller Set

By: Macherieamour

Tools:

1)Wide Tooth Comb 2) Rattail 3) Magnetic rollers 4) Duckbill Clip 5) Water Bottle 6)Leave-in Conditioner 7) Serum

1) Wash and Condition hair as usual

2) After rinsing out conditioner, leave hair soaking wet and put a plastic shower cap over wet hair.

3) Apply leave-in and serum concentrating on the ends. Fill your water bottle with the mixture of your choice: 1) plain water, 2) water and setting lotion, 3) liquid leave-in or 4) water and oil.

Get the silkiest, bounciest and straightest by using just leave-in, serum and water.
I get the firmest curls when I use setting lotion (diluted or not)
I get the most hydrated set (but less bounce) when i use a moisturizer with my leave-in and serum.

4) Part hair down the middle (imagine a Mohawk) and use an elastic to keep the sides out of the way.

5) Start with the mohawk first. Spray with water. I usually spray 5-7 sprays per 1 inch section.

6) Part a 1 inch horizontal section and comb down. The hair should be hanging in front of your face.
Pinch the end and place the roller on TOP of the hair. Roll up (towards the ceiling).
Rolling up is the easiest on your arms and creates a lot more space on the head for the rollers.
Continue until you finish the mohawk section.

A few things to Remember:

* Keep the section you are working on very wet, especially the ends. They should cling to the roller.
* Experiment with roller size. The smaller the roller, the tighter the curl and the longer the curl will stay.If you have longer hair, you might want a larger roller to shorten drying time and to achieve a straight look.
* Use tension while rolling. I like to roll, pull, roll, pull, etc. This is ensure that your hair will be straight.

* Experiment with the combination of products that work for you.
Some use undiluted setting lotion.
Some just use leave-in, serum and water. I get the silkiest best set THIS way.
I like a cream leave-in, serum (Silken Seal), oil moisturizer and diluted setting lotion.
I get super shiny, soft, supple hair and virtually no breakage when removing the rollers this way.

* Use duckbill clips.
They will not move while your hair is drying and will keep the roller tight.
DO NOT PIN OR CLIP ROLLERS together. This is asking for breakage.

* Clip the top of the roller to the scalp. They should not feel wobbly or insecure.

7) Move on the right or left side. Make three vertical sections.
Use an elastic or scrunchie to keep it out of the way.

Start with section furthest from your face. Part a 1 inch section and roll up.
Continue until you complete each section. Then move the opposite side of your head and do the same.

9) Air dry or dry under a hood dryer. Anticipate at least 30-90 minutes under the dryer.

*Avoid shoving your head into a small hood dryer. This will cause breakage over time.

10) Make sure your hair is COMPLETELY dry before removing the rollers.
I know its hot and uncomfortable BUT your hair will frizz or revert if not completely dry!

11) Remove rollers and ENJOY!

Clear Healthy Skin: The Holistic Approach

The ancient healing tradition of Ayurveda is creating waves in the world of natural skin care.

The first step in the holistic Ayurvedic approach to skin care is finding out your ayurvedic skin type:

Vata skin is in general dry, thin, and cool to the touch, easily gets dehydrated, and is very vulnerable to dry windy weather. Pitta is mostly fire, so the Pitta skin type tends to have more break-outs, sun sensitivity, and less tolerance to spicy food. Pitta skin looks rosy, and is warm to the touch. Pitta skin types tend to be more prone to freckles and moles than the other skin types. Kapha is predominantly water and earth, so Kapha skin tends to have all the qualities of water and earth — it can be greasy, thick, and more tolerant of the sun. “Combination” skin can be Vata-Pitta, skin that is both dry and sensitive, Kapha-Pitta, or oily and sensitive skin, and Vata-Kapha, skin that is generally dry with some oily zones. The ayurvedic approach to caring for combination skin takes into account environmental and seasonal factors.

For Vata skin to stay youthful, nurturing skin care products should be used consistently. They must include a combination of essential oils or herbs which can nourish the skin and rehydrate it, otherwise it may be susceptible to wrinkles and premature aging. Try massaging a little coconut oil into your skin before bed.

The Pitta skin type needs both cooling and nurturing. Use skin care products that help enhance resistance to the sun. Avoid tanning treatments and therapies that expose your delicate, sensitive skin to steam for extended periods of time. Opt for gentle, natural skincare products for cleansing and moisturizing.

Kapha skin, because of its thickness and oiliness, is more prone to accumulate ama — toxins under the skin. People with Kapha skin need to do detoxification on a regular basis, both internal detoxification and external detoxification to flush toxins from the skin. Cleanse your skin twice everyday; exfoliate with a mud-mask at least once a week to keep skin fresh and clear.

Try this Ayurvedic “secret” for glowing, blemish-free skin:

Apply  turmeric, neem, and amla powder paste daily to clear all marks from the skin, lighten dark circles and delay wrinkles or loosening of skin. This is also an excellent treatment for psoriasis and eczema.